threats of being killed and they made us choose which one of us would be shot first. when we refused they were there were mock shootings. as we were driving along the road the kidnappers saw this checkpoint, started a gunfight with it and would of the kidnappers were killed. we climbed out of the vehicle and the rebels took us. >> nbc news said there was no claim of responsibility. no contact with the captors and no request for ransom during the time the crew was missing. of course, the entire nbc family is tremendously relieved that richard and the rest of our colleagues are safe. >> richard, as you know, is widely respected for his reporting around the world. joining us now is andrea mitchell. good to have you here. >> it is great to be here on a happy day to report. >> amazing what happened. just touched on it briefly. they got lucky in order to be freed. >> they were lucky. they were essex experienced. richard being fluent in arabic was able to even while blindfolded and bound all three of them could listen and hear their captors talking. that's how they had a bet